Introduction
Empyema thoracis is an infection of the pleural space that is most commonly a complication of pneumonia (parapneumonic), [1],[2],[3] but also can be a complication of primary fungal or mycobacterial infections (tuberculous), a complication of abdominal infections (sub-phrenic abscess, infected pancreas necrosis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) or following trauma [4] (infected retained clotted hemothorax, [5] esophageal perforation) or surgical procedures (post-resection or post-pneumonectomy empyema). Complicated parapneumonic effusion or pleural empyema develops in 10-20% of outpatients with pneumonia. Empyema is a disease process that progresses seamlessly through three ...